Prost! 8 Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest 2018

Held annually in Bavaria, Munich, Germany (phew! What a mouthful), Oktoberfest is a folk festival that is synonymous with great company, great beer, and great times! Can’t fly to Germany to celebrate this historic festival? Fret not as we’ve gathered 8 places in Singapore where you can taste authentic German beer and still bask in the spirit of Oktoberfest. And if you’re a beer geek looking for something a little more niche than German beers, be sure to check out these watering holes to get your craft beer fix.

Practically an institution if you’re looking for all things German, Brotzeit celebrates Oktoberfest with live music and comedic acts like Oktoberfest Oompahband, as well as AnTon & the funny Guys (18 to 21 Oct at the Vivocity outlet). You can also taste all-time Oktoberfest favourites like tender pork collar slow roasted in dark beer sauce, served with soft potato dumplings and tangy sauerkraut; savoury meatloaf served between a soft Kaiser roll and potato salad; and who can forget? Succulent, oven-roasted pork belly that comes with crisp crackling skin, filled with moist bread stuffing. Wash it all down with a Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier (a full-bodied, bottom-fermented speciality beer)!

Inspired by traditional beer gardens found in the Bavarian region, Der Biergarten is an unassuming space along Prinsep Street that is perfect for an intimate dinner or a round of drinks with friends. Come 16 October, gather a couple of mates (or girlfriends) and celebrate Oktoberfest with performances from AnTon & the funny Guys, a live band, and perhaps even a game of pool. There are also three Oktoberfest special platters ($68) to choose from: the Pork Knuckle Meat Lovers platter; a German Butcher Platter with Pork Jelly; or for those on a liquid diet – a 4 pint Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier set.

German beer aficionados will be pleased to note that traditional drafts like Paulaner Original Münchner Hell Premium Lager, as well as Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier Naturtrüb Wheat Beer, are available at this fine establishment for $10 a pint.

Find it 48 Prinsep Street, #01-01, Singapore 188677

3. ERDINGER Oktoberfest 2018

If you’re already planning a big night out at Clarke Quay, why not join in on the Oktoberfest festivities hosted by ERDINGER Weissbräu? From 19 to 20 October, the popular nightlife spot will be transformed into a German town where you can get lip-smacking German food as well as traditional Bavarian-brewed beer on tap.

The live band performances and carnival games are sure to get you on your feet as you participate in boisterous dancing on tables – as tradition dictates – and merrymaking. And if you’re really lucky, you might just walk away with awesome prizes during the grand lucky draw each night. There’s nothing like a good street party to get the Oktoberfest spirit going. Prost, mein freund (Cheers, my friend)!

Mark your calendars for 20 October as Fullerton Post Bar celebrates Oktoberfest with plenty of beers, beer maids, a live band and DJs, beer drinking competitions, and of course gourmet German fare like beef goulash, Bavarian sausage, and pork meatloaf. And what’s better than an ice cold ERDINGER Weißbier? How about the fact that they’re going for $10 all night!

Pro tip: get your tickets (each ticket includes one ERDINGER) early as they tend to sell out fast! Advance tickets are going for $15, regular at $20, while event day tickets cost $30. Come dressed in your finest dirndl (the traditional Bavarian dress for beer maids) and you may stand a chance to win prizes!

For an Oktoberfest that literally makes you feel like you’re on top of the world, LeVel33 is the place to go. Located on the 33rd floor of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, the world’s highest urban microbrewery is proud to offer their very own Festbier ($9.88 from opening till 8pm, $12.88 after 8pm) that was specially brewed for the month of October. The brew is best described as a clear straw colour with a frothy white head. The aroma is a buttery, creamy malt, with light caramel notes and is slightly fruity. The flavour is moderate bitter with a light hoppy palate. Light to medium bodied with soft carbonation.

6. Oktoberfest Asia 2018

Now in its 6th year, Oktoberfest Asia is back again and will be held in a fully air-conditioned marquee on Tan Quee Lan. The main event happens from 19 to 20 October where there will be a free flow of German beers like Benediktiner Hell, Bitburger, Paulaner Bräuhaus, and Weihenstephan for all valid passes (starts from $63) to go with German delicacies prepared by catering firm Shiso. The Rock Oompahs will also be performing live to celebrate this joyous festival.

If you pick up a VIP ticket ($154), you’ll get access to a sumptuous Oktoberfest Buffet which consists of Bavarian Chopped Green Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette, Roast Pork Knuckle & Crispy Pork Porchetta with Homemade Sauerkraut, German Apple Strudel with Cinnamon Sauce, and Gebratener Reis Deutsch (stir-fried long grain rice, green pepper, onion, pimentos, cider vinegar) just to name a few.

21 October will be a Family Day ($22, also comes with a free beer) complete with bouncy castles, game stalls, and other activities to keep the children entertained.

Find it at Tan Quee Lan StreetClick here for more information on Oktoberfest Asia 2018.

Paulaner Bräuhaus, Singapore’s first authentic German microbrewery, will be celebrating Oktoberfest from 10 to 21 October with various highlights. Expect freshly brewed Oktoberfest beers to accompany snacks like the original “Weißwurst” (a traditional Munich sausage made of minced veal and pork, flavoured with fresh parsley and lemon, served with an oven-baked pretzel). As well as specially curated Oktoberfest menus which feature generous platters of crispy pork knuckles, roast pork, and pretzels hanging from a “pretzel tree”. There’s even a family brunch buffet on 14 and 21st October, where your little ones can entertain themselves with activities like props making, glitter tattoos, pretzel bracelets, and alpine hat design.

If you prefer a quieter affair, why not head down to any of Stärker’s outlets to enjoy their Oktoberfest offerings with a freshly brewed Stärker beer? The restaurants also offer 5 unique brews: Aromatic, Charcoal, Dunkel, Lager, and arguably the crowd favourite, the Lychee. Each brew has a strict 7-day shelf life and all of them are made with the finest ingredients imported from Europe. Now THAT’s freshly brewed.

A 3L of Stärker’s finest and an Oktoberfest platter cost $138, while 6 half pints and their famous pork knuckle (marinated in Stärker’s secret spices and served with creamy mash, house salad, with a side of Stärker beer sauce) cost $83.80. Available at all of their outlets.

Kenneth is a firm believer that when it comes to food, everything should be tried at least once. That is why he has tasted and survived surströmming, hongeo, and witchetty grub. Like Tolkien, he also believes that if more of us valued food, cheer, and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.